Fireproof floor construction



PIREPROOF FLOOR OONSTRUOTION. No. 522,426. Patented July 3, 1894. 129.1.

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2 Sheets--Sheetl 2;

Patented July 3, 1894.

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FIREPROOF FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

351g amine (No Modell.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

-ATENT FICE' THOMAS A. LEE, OFV NEW YORK, N. Y.

FlREPROOF-FLORKCONSTRUCTION.

sPEcIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 522,42c,aate 1.u1y s, 1894.

' Application ned 1911127.12393.v serial No. 472,116. (No model.)

Beit known that I, THOMAS A. LEE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Fireproof-Floor Construction, of which the following is a description, reference being for'm part of this specification.

My invention relates particularly to reproof doors formed as set forth in the patent granted to me October 13, 1891, and numbered 461,029 and reissued August 8, 1893, and numbered 11,356. The floors are formed of tile blocks cemented together andtension rods cemented in the base of the door.. The tile and cement in the upper portions are'strong enough to bear the compression due to loads, while the tension rods and surrounding cement sustain the tension strains in the base of the floor. The intermediate `tile work forms virtuallyan openwork web separating but rigidly uniting the tension and compression portions, somewhat in the manner of a lattice work/girder or row of girders. Under the present invention I lay the door blocks with channels or spaces between them. They are rst laid with thetension 'rods and the cement is lled in afterward.`

My invention includes both the method of construction and the combination formed. Its purpose is to enable me to employ lessexpert workmen than in other constructions and at the same time to produce a thoroughly light, strong, durable, and inexpensive, floor, roof, bridge, area way, or like structure.

,To such ends and purposes my invention is embodied in the floor blocks, tension rods, and cement work,.constructed, arranged, combined, and used, substantially in the manner hereinafter described, illustrated, and claimed. f

In an application filed herewith and serially numbered` 472,115, entitled iloors and floor blocks, I have described and claimed floor blocks formed with projecting bases in order that theymaybe merely laid in placein regular courses, baseto-base, and that thecement or mortar may afterward be poured or tamped into the channels or spaces left between the walls of the blocks, In the present case, therefore, I do not include the'broad claims for such blocks, because the present case relates to tension-rod iioorsas above described. The

had to the accompanying drawings, which blocks are however somewhat modified to make them .peculiarly applicable to my construction, and in the preferred form have channels for the tension ro"ds in their bases,

merely lay them at the bottom of the channels between the courses, when no rod channels are used, and afterward pour or press and pack the mortar or other cement in loetween the blocks fiush with the face of the door, thereby rigidly uniting rods and blocks together. Thecement,when thoroughlyhardcned, forms strong ribs running parallel with and between the courses of tiles and greatly increasing the compression strength of the floor. The tension rods, embedded atthe bottom of these cement ribs, arepreferably formed of peculiar cross section to give great cement engagingl power and prevent their drawing through the cement, or shearing; for clearly the rigidity of the bond between the tension rod and the tile work depends upon the mass or cross section of cement which the rod must necessarily draw with it in lbreaking loose from the surrounding material. I therefore construct a'rod possessing 4vwhat I may term a large cylinder of shearing A at bar or band, twisted, would 'make an admirable tension rod, if it were possible to give it suflicient twist without unduly straining, stretching, or tearing, the spiral edges of the bar. I have however eected all the advantages without the attendant defects and difficulties, by employing twc small 'rods or wires, separated by a spacing piece having grooves or channels in which the rods lie. When the rods or wires are twisted or laid'with, and spirally about, the spacing piece, somewhat greater length of the rodsis of course required than of .the axial spacing piece. Therefore,when completed, my tension rod is able to present all the advantages of a twisted band or bar of' very steep pitch with no initial strains in the edges, and with therefore a maximum strength.

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I have now briefly described 'some of the floor. Fig.2

15 another modification.

main features of my invention. The accom panying drawings illustrate several embodiments of it.

Figure I is a plan View of one form of my is a side view showing a course of tiles and tension rods. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same form. Figs. l t and 5 are side View and section of my preferred form of tension rod. Figs. G and 7 are plan and 1o side View of a modified form of floor. Fig. 8

is a cross sectionl showing still another form. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a floor made as in Fig. S or as in either Figs. 10 and 11, or 12 and 13. Figs. l0 and ll are side View and section ot' Figs. l2 and 13 show in side view and section the employment of a simple rectangular block. Fig. le shows a form of tool used to tamp the mortar or cement down between the tiles,and Fig. shows zo a hand tray and blade for cementing the ten sion rods within the rod channels.

Throughout the drawings likeletters of reference indicate like parts and features.

The first tive figures show my fioor conustructed of' blocks with slanting sides, and my peculiar form of tension rod.

B indicates the main portions of the blocks, preferably about two feet long, and b the end slabs fitted and cemented to the blocks at the 3o factory. The blocks are therefore :to all intents and purposes, so far as the workmen are concerned, light solid building blocks. The blocks are provided with channels b' at the base for receiving the tension rods R.

3 5 They are also provided with shallow grooves,

or recesses, b", to form dowel joints between blocks. The upper wall or top is preferably ribbed to increase its compressive strength, the ribs 6 projecting downward and mate- 4o rially increasing the stiffness and compression area of the tile.

The tension rod R is shown in Figs. t and 5 about half the size actually used in light fioors. The small rods or wires i' twist spirally 4around the grooved spacing piece fr which is twisted axially between them in the process of format-ion giving the cross section shown in Fig. 5. The fiat form of the rod gives it great cement engaging power or cyl- 5o inder of shearing, with a minimum of material.

In constructing my floor, I first erect a scaffolding or temporary support, and then, beginning at one side of the floor, I lay one course of these tiles with bases touching but without cement. I then take a tension rod of length equal to the course and embed it in cement within the rod channel Zi. For a convenience in filling the cement about the rod 6o I have designed the tools shown in Fig. 15.

The hand tray or scoop T contains enough mortar or cement for the whole length of the tension rod, as used for short spans in narrow floors. The blade T is formed to fit conveniently both the hand tray or scoop and the channel to be cemented; so that a workman with these tools can very quickly cement a tension rod within its channel. This being done the next course of tiles is set in place, breaking joints with the other, and a second tension rod cemented within its rod channel. In this manner successive courses are laid until the whole floor is laid. After all the blocks are laid, or, if haste is desired, after several courses have been laid, the Vrshapcd channels or spaces between the tile blocks are filled with cement, thereby rigidly cementing the blocks and tension rods together with stiff dowel joints between the tile blocks. This ti nal cementingmay be accomplished by pouring cement of the proper consistency into the channels, till it fills them fiush with the up per face of the floor; but I very much prefer, on account of superior strength, to employ mortar or cement of somewhat dryer compo sition and to pack or tamp it in between the blocks by some suitable instrument till every crack and crevice is filled. For this purpose I have designed the tool shown in Fig. 14. The blade S is slightly wedge-shaped to more surely force the mortar or cement against the walls and into the recesses of the floor blocks. When thoroughly hardened the cement joints or ribs, running through the floor between the courses, greatly increase the compression strength of the floor and at the saine time firmly unite the tension rods and the upper portions of the floor.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show'a simpler but less preferred form of block, tapering or inclined only at the sides, without end slabs, and presenting the same cross section as in Fig. El. They are cemented closely together, endto end, as they are laid in place in each course; and the channel between the courses is filled in as before.

Fig. 8 is a cross section showing a further modification. In this form theinclined sides are replaced by perpendicular sides with projecting fianges at the bottom. When the blocks are in place, base-to-base, the space or channel formed has vertical sides. The recesses or grooves b", of Fig. are replaced by slight projections or ribs and the rod channel is omitted. In this form the blocks are laid throughout before placing the rods, and the rods afterward laid upon chips of tile or other small supports at the bottom of' the channels ready to receive the final filling of cement. This is perhaps the preferred form of my construction, since it simplifies the method of formation. The plan View of' the completed floor will be the same as Fig. i) or Fig. 1.

Figs. 10 and ll show a further modification of Fig. 8, the projecting bases or flanges being omitted and recesses b employed as before, in Fig. 3. In laying this form I use wooden guides or spacing pieces by which the workmen regulate the proper space or channel between blocks. The tension rods are laid as before, in the channels between the courses and finally the cement is filled in binding the whole floor together.

I may also use simple plane faced rectangular blocks withV end slabs b. Such construction is shown in Figs. 12 and 13. It differs from Figs. 10 and 11 merely in the omission of the grooves or recesses b, which form the dowel joints. v

It must not be understood from the foregoing description that all four sides of each block need necessarily be inclined, flanged,

or spaced, vaccording to my invention; be` cause clearly the precise form of the cement joint running parallel withV the courses and the rods has little or nothing to do with the form selected for the joints used between the ends of the blocks of each course. Indeed Figs. 6 and 7 clearly illustrate this point, and show that the end plates also may be omitted without in any way preventing the full carrylng out of my invention as regards the channels between adjacent courses. l

I have now explained the essential features of my way of building a iioor and of the Iioor when so constructed, and therefore, desiring to secure to myself by these Letters Patent all modifications which may be made without departing from the essential features of my invention, Iclaim the following:

l. A floor or like block consisting of a hollow portion B with a tension rod, channel near the base of the block, ribs bf in the upper portion of the block, and end slabs b closing the ends of the hollows, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.

2. A floor or like block .consisting of a hollow portion B provided with strengthening ribs 19 near its upper face, substantiallyTv as, and for the purposes, set forth.

3. A iioor or'like block for the purposes described provided with a projecting base, whereby spaces or channels for cement may be formed between adjacent blocks when placed base-to-base, and provided with tension rod channels b near the base of the block, substantially as set forth.

4. A iioor or like block consisting of a hollow portion B provided with a tensionrod Achannel b near the base and end slabs b closing the 'ends of the hollows, the walls of the said block projecting at the base, whereby spaces or channels for the cement may be formed between adjacent blocks when placed base-to-base, substantially as, and forthe purposes,-set forth.

5. In combination in a iioor,roof, or like structure, vblocks provided with hollows, slabs b closing the said hollows, and projecting bases leaving spacesor channels between adjacent blocks, tension rods laid in the said channels, and mortar or other cement filling the said spaces or channels, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.

6. In combination in a floor, roof, or like v structure, blocks provided with projecting bases and laid base-to-base leaving spaces or channels between them, tension rods laid in the sald spaces or channels, and mortar or vslabs b closing the said hollows, and laid. with spaces or channels between adjacent blocks,

tension rods laid in the said 'spaces or channels, and ribs of mortar or other cement lilling the said spaces or channels, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.

8. In combination in'a floor, roof, or like structure, hollow blocks provided with strengthening ribs b" in their upper portions and laid with spaces or channels between adjacent blocks, tension rods in the said spaces or channels, and mortar orl other cement filling the said spaces or channels, uniting the whole iioor, and forming strengthening ribs parallel with the said tension rods, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.

9. In combination in a floor, roof, or like structure, iloor blocks laid with spaces or channels between the adjacent blocks, tension rods in the said spaces lor channels, and mortar or other cement filling in the said spaces and uniting the said tension rods and struct- `ure and forming compression resisting ribs (as distinguished from mere cement joints). parallel with the said tension rods and extending downward from the upper surface of the said blocks, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. Y

10. In combination in a Iioor or like structure, blocks laid with spaces or channels between courses, and tension rods consisting of an axial spacing piece r and two spiral wires or small rods r twisted or laid in grooves in the said spacing piece, the said tension rods beinglaid in cement or mortar between the said blocks, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.

1l. A tension rod for the purposes described consisting of an axial spacing piece r and two small rods or wires r laid or .twisted spirally about the said spacing piece in grooves or channels therein, substantially as set forth. 12. A tension rod for the purposes described `in the form of a ilat twisted band orbar consisting of two small rods or wires r and an intermediate axial spacing piece r' provided with'groovesupon opposite sides within which the said small rods or wires rest, substantially as set forth.

13. A tension rod for the purposes described in the formvof a fiat twisted band or bar consisting of two small rods or wires r and an intermediate axial spacing piece r', substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand this 21st day of April, 1893.

y THOMAS A. LEE.

Witnesses:

HAROLD BINNEY, MAY G. RIDLEY.

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